NHL does not plan seasonal tournament after NBA announcement – New York Post

NHL

By christian arnold

July 19, 2023 | 00:13

The NHL will not replicate the NBA season tournament.

At least not at this time.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN Tuesday that they won’t follow their winter sports rival’s lead this time after the NBA added the tournament for next season.

“Seasonal tournaments are not being considered,” Daly told “World Leader” in an email.

The NBA announced earlier this month that it would introduce a tournament within the coming season involving all 30 teams in the league.

The group stage will start on November 30 and the tournament will run until December 9, with the winner receiving the NBA Cup and the players receiving additional financial compensation.

All tournament games, except the championship game, will count toward the standings.

NHL Players Association executive director Marty Walsh told ESPN that no discussion between players about a tournament has taken place during the season.

However, Walsh, who took over as president of the players’ union in February after a stint as President Joe Biden’s Secretary of Labor, he told the outlet that he was open to the idea.

“I think everything there is worth seeing,” Walsh said. “I tell players all the time, even if you have an idea that you think is a little wacky, just run it with me.

“You never know what turns out to be a brilliant idea.”

The most pressing issue for NHL players, according to Walsh, is what international hockey possibilities await them.

The players hope that the NHL can host another Hockey World Cup and a return to the Winter Olympics in 2026.

An attempt to host a Hockey World Cup in 2024 had to be frozen after the NHL and NHLPA agreed last November that it was “not feasible” to host a tournament next year.

NHL players have not participated in the Olympics since 2014, and the issue has long been important to them as they look to represent their country again in 2026.